Taraji Wants You to Know Cookie Lyon Is No Stereotype

The Golden Globe winner on keeping her Empire character grounded.

Taraji P. Henson's signature character Cookie Lyon may be one of the most meme-d in television history, but the Golden Globe-winning actress wants to make it clear she isn't playing a caricature.

Henson graced one of six covers of Elle's Women in TV issue (her fellow Golden Globes Best Actress nominee Viola Davis was also selected) and, in the accompanying article, opened up about keeping it real when playing the larger-than-life character on Empire.

"It was very important to me that she not be sassy and neck-rollin' and eye-bulgin' and attitude all the time," Henson says. "Everything she does is coming from a place of fighting for her family," she explains. "That's why she's not a caricature."

Clearly, the guys who hand out the awards agree. Catch up on Taraji's landmark Globes win with BET Breaks below:

(Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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